Recently Collected

Pomegranates - Corriander (mp3) (buy)

Dish - Cold is (mp3) (buy)

The Sounds - Dorchester Hotel (mp3) (buy)

Photons - Where we you last night (mp3) (buy)

Sweet Serenades - Die Young (mp3) (buy)

Deep Dark Woods - All the money I had is gone (mp3) (buy)

Toronto was checking out their Sugalumps

The Flight of the Conchords played two shows at Massey Hall during their stay in Toronto. I was lucky enough to see them play on the second night. My memory is not the best, and I may not always be word for word in my quotes, but this is my recollection of the night.

The first thing the audience heard was a deep booming voice that penetrated the very soul itself. Nearly three thousand pairs of eyes scanned the still dark stage for a glimpse of the man that spoke to them. No sign. We would just have to trust the speaker system.

"PREPARE YOURSELF," came the voice, silencing the anticipating crowd. "PREPARE YOURSELF FOR A MAN..."
Recognition dawned on our faces. It was Jemaine. Jemaine was speaking to us.
"Well, not just a man... More than a man... Technically just a man... But... Just... J-just PREPARE YOURSELF!"

And thus, Eugene Mirman was introduced to the stage. The voice tells us that we may remember him from his role in the television series "Flight of the Con-ch-ords", as the band's landlord. Ah, yes Jemaine, I do remember Eugene.

Eugene greets us in his familiar monotone way. But he is a lot more pleasant and smiley than his TV counterpart. He says its a shame that rain took over the city during their stay here. It took away from his experience walking through Chinatown. This received him one "woo!" from the audience. My woo. Asian and proud! Eugene went on to tell us about how religion makes sense if you think about God as a nine year old boy with Asperger's Syndrome and how Delta Airlines is so offensive, it's like a guy going to a costume party dressed as Hitler, and not knowing why it's offensive. He really dislikes Delta. He proceeded to hand out prewritten postcards to the audience addressed to Delta that further explained his respectable qualms with them. He asked us to send these on his behalf before introducing the duo we had all been waiting for.

Credit to Gaby G. for the photo, 'cause my camera's zoom range is crap!

Bret and Jemaine took to the stage, decked out in silver futuristic robot costumes - disco ball jock straps included. Intense strobe lights blinded Balcony Right for the duration of Too Many Dicks on the Dance Floor but they didn't need their eyes to cheer wholeheartedly.

They were their charming selves, no less, making sure that the audience was well informed of what the next hour and a half or so would entail. There would be some songs, and there would be some talking. How considerate of the boys to prepare us so thoroughly. It was like they were holding our hands, every step of the way.

The set list was comprised of a good balance between season one, season two and some very unexpected but welcomed tunes. They gave a shout out to Toronto's Queen St. during the first verse of Most Beautiful Girl in the Room. I saw a lighter swaying in the audience in the middle of Sello Tape, and being Canadian, the audience had no problems translating the lyrics to Foux du Fafa. All the ladies in the audience went "aww" sympathetically throughout Carol Brown (Stick Around) and Hurt Feelings. But seriously, who would've thought they would ACTUALLY play a mocking cover of Free Bird when someone shouted the request? It wasn't a fourteen minute cover, but hey, that in itself was epic. Also played after a request was the impromptu Song for Epileptic Dogs and its subsequent remix.
"See? There! Just like in the show!" quipped Jemaine proudly.
Renditions of Jenny and the Bus Driver Song were also pleasant surprises for the fans familiar with their material outside of the HBO series.

In terms of the banter and audience interaction, the Conchords seemed to have a good time teasing the audience. Massey Hall was pretty strict on their no-recording policy, and the boys were happy to help enforce it.
"You know, you guys really should do a better job hiding the red light from your cameras when you're recording," was Bret's suggestion. "That guy's been recording the whole thing! Oh, here come the ushers... No, too far! Back two rows! Get him!"
They made sure to give the guy who left his seat in the middle of the set to take a leak a hard time. The entire audience shouted at him when he returned while the band gave him a stern talking to. Tsk tsk tsk.
Bret coaxingly invited a girl from the front row toward the stage during the final song, a slowed down and sensual version of Sugalumps. It took her a moment to gain the confidence to approach, but when she did, boy did she approach! Bret jumped back in protest, protecting his sweet sugalumps.

The boys showed their love to Canada by wearing the iconic maple leaf and country's name on their trucker hats for the encore. Bret even went so far as to have a bath in maple syrup. Mmm. And regretably, the concert was done. Massey Hall played That's Not My Name by the Ting Tings as the get-the-audience-out music and the near three thousand people shuffled out, blocking traffic on the street outside.

There was a large crowd of fans waiting by the stage door after the show with their cameras and various things they wanted signed. Mostly though, I think we were all just excited to be in the general presence of the two men that we've come to love so much from watching them on TV...

*sniff sniff* And Toronto will probably never ever see them again.
D:

Flight of the Conchords - Foux Du Fafa (mp3) (amazon) (iTunes)

Flight of the Conchords - Song for Epileptic Dogs (mp3) (amazon) (iTunes)

Flight of the Conchords - Sugalumps (mp3) (amazon) (iTunes)

Flight of the Conchords - Bus Driver Song (mp3) (amazon) (iTunes)

Also, fellow blogger at the Burgeoning Metropolis are nice enough to offer a couple of live snippets from this very show! Click here to read their recount of the show!

OH Angela!

Jarvis Cocker has a new album coming out May 18th and it's titled Further Complications. He's got a really cute short video on his new website at http://www.jarviscocker.net/ . Watch Jarvis play with block letters! It sounds like child's play, but when it's done by Jarvis, it oozes coolness.

Jarvis Cocker - Angela (mp3) (not yet available for sale, but you can get it here also)

Oh Jarvis, when will you grace us with your prescense in Canada?

Watch the full concert at baeblemusic.com

Search Beirut on Google and you shall find either the band or the capital of Lebanon. If you're looking for a page about the band, you've come to the right page. They've recently uploaded a full show for viewing.

Beirut - Venice (mp3) (buy)

Black Wave

The Black Lips. Being their bad-ass selves at a birthday party.

The Black Lips - I'll be with you (mp3) (buy)

Through and Through and Through

It's not "west-side", it's "3."

Joel Plaskett is no stranger to concept albums, after all, his previous disc was a (fictional?) tale about teenagers, bandmates, a place called Ashtray Rock and a "1940's beauty."

His latest release, Three is a triple disc set. Yeah, you read it right. THREE. Yet even though there are three discs, it is not a pompous self absorbed effort. Clocking in at about an hour and a half total, it is quite the opposite. The ever humble Mr. Plaskett decided on the three disc format after joking that there were so many songs with titles that repeat three times that it should be a triple disc set.

The songs have a very grown-up take on the life of a travelling musician, about the love of performing life music but also about being home. Disc one has themes of leaving home, disc two about playing music and disc three is all about coming back home. Just listening to it, it sounds like Plaskett and his bandmates/backup singers had a great time in the recording studio and its that love of music that make all the trials and tribulations he mentions in the songs worth it in the end. And that love of music, combined with clever songwriting, keeps it compelling for us, the listener, too!

Joel Plaskett - Through and Through and Through (mp3) (buy)

Joel Plaskett - Shine On Shine On Shine On (mp3) (buy)

Four Winds Blowing...

Stereogum recently reported that the Killers will be releasing an EP for the single "Spaceman". This will include a new bonus track, a cover of Bright Eyes "Four Winds". While I might occasionally appreciate The Killers, I'm not sure this is one of those times. You have to understand, I love "Four Winds". It's got one of the highest play counts on my computer. Obviously I'm biased. But don't take my word for it, listen for yourselves.

The Killers


Bright Eyes

Peasant Power

A boy with a guitar.

What makes Peasant, aka Damien DeRose, a boy with a guitar different?

Special, even?

Well, I'll tell you.

He's got a voice like butter. And not just "butter". Imagine Mike Myers in his SNL heydays saying "butt-ah". It's like butter.

There is a WOXY session with Peasant when his album On the Ground came out in January, where the production value is similar to that of the record, but his voice shines. The session is acoustic much like the record, but without the production values that take away little errors of string slides etc, it's even better. His voice radiates warm and emotion so clearly. I think Peasant is definitely someone to see live.

Peasant - We're Good (mp3) (buy)

Check out the mp3s on the Futurist (WOXY's blog) too.

UK Folktronica Artist James Yuill

I got an email a while back about "UK Folktronica Artist James Yuill". I didn't really pay much attention to it until I really had some time to sort out my inbox, and I thought... What the hell does UK Folktronica sound like anyway?



James Yuill - No Surprise (mp3) (buy) (iTunes)

Aha... So that's what it sounds like. How cute! If someone injected liquor chocolates with bubblegum flavoured pop rocks and it made a sound, this is what it would sound like.

He's doing a very short tour of the US. If you're in Brooklyn, he'll be doing a free show at Coco 66 today before stopping in LA on the 11th and going back home to the UK to continue his tour there. Check out more dates and tunes on his mySpace.

And just for kicks, I simply adore this photo.


Ha! Why can't all my profs look like that?

Womanizer, womanizer, Franz and womanizer, oh!

Oh so charming womanizers.

Dear Franz Ferdinand,

Boy, don't try to front.
I-I know jus-just what you are.
You got me goin'!
You're oh so charming!
But I can't do it.
You womanizer.

- love,
the Impressionable Youth.

Franz Ferdinand - Womanizer (Britney Spears cover) (mp3)

Well, what can I say? It was only a matter of time before Franz Ferdinand did a Britney Spears cover. They actually bridge into one of their crowd favourites, Shopping for Blood after the midpoint of the song, which is surprisingly fitting.

Hear the entire interview and performance at BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge. There's a good 20 minutes worth of material on that link. Nick proves his abilities as a talented mathematician. Alex tells an adorable childhood story about Doctor Who and mittens. The band conquers a Fear Dragon, then perform No You Girls and of course, the highlight of the day, their cover of Britney Spears' Womanizer.

Ah yes, the Bourgeoisie

You might have heard "You, Me and the Bourgeoisie" before. You may have hard it on an iPhone commercial. Perhaps you're heard this song on a TV show, or perhaps you heard this in the background of a movie. So it that such a bad thing? I would have never have discovered the Submarines if someone hadn't mentioned that the song was on an iPhone commercial.

This boy-girl pop duo, consisting of Blake Hazard and John Dragonetti, has a sunny, accessible sound that seems just sparkles with pop sensibility. Even the biography of the band is utterly charming and sweet. The story is that the two members had dated, broke up, kept writing songs about their breakup and the songs brought them back together again. The tracks form their debut was comprised of these songs and as a wedding gift, a friend of theirs produced the album.

It's like an indie fairy tale, and their latest full-length release Honeysuckle Weeks and EPs Honeysuckle Weeks 1 and 2 Remixed aren't doing too badly either!

Submarines - You Me and the Bourgeoisie (Tonetiger Remix) (mp3) (buy)

Submarines - Brighter Discontect (mp3) (buy)

Flashy Flashy

London/Brighton, UK's the Flashguns play to fast frantic post-punk songs with overlapping organs, disjointed beats and strong basslines. At times sounding as through they are in the same cohort as the Tokyo Police Club, with unrecognizable non-British vocals and and other times referring the heavy melodic drum machine driven British-ness of the Smiths and the Cure.

In "Locarno", they could pass for Canadian kids inspired by the post punk pop movement, and in "Roshambo", they start moving into a more Smith-ish territory, before digging deep into Smiths mode on their myspace.

Flashguns - Locarno (mp3) (buy)

Flashguns - Roshambo (mp3) (buy)

In-Flight Safety at Criminal Records

Yeah, I know it's short notice from me, but In-Flight Safety will be making a FREE, all-ages, acoustic appearance at Criminal Records at 2PM today. Yay! But it looks more and more like I won't be able to go.

D=

If you're still interested (as you should be) but can't make it to the afternoon show, they'll be doing another one tonight at the Horeshoe Tavern.

Just to remind you of who these guys are:

In-Flight Safety - Amy Racina (mp3) (MapleMusic) (iTunes)

It's always comforting to hear an In-Flight Safety song, no matter what time it is, or where you are, or what their lyrics are telling you. They know how to soothe people, and that in itself is a talent worth exploring.


So now, three years after their Juno Award winning debut, The Coast is Clear, In-Flight Safety have come out from their base in Halifax to bring us We Are an Empire, My Dear. It was actually released just over two months ago. The band are slowly gaining back their momentum and their following.

So as their album suggests, our contemporary world is filled with the tensions of love, greed and wealth. Go relax for once. In-Flight Safety and We Are an Empire, My Dear will help.

One of these things just doesn't belong

Swedish band, the Mary Onettes are back with a new song "Dare", out April 21st. It's got that same ghostly mysteriously, hopeful feeling that I remember from their last album 2 ago. I couldn't stop listening to the track "Still" off their last outing and I'm hoping that their next effort will have the same effect.

I also can't get over thes press photos. Is it just me or does one of these just not belong?

The Mary Onettes - Dare (mp3) (not yet available for sale)

Velvet Revolver of Halifax Pop

Not that I'm feeling lazy and not wanting to write my own post, but how could I possibly write a better comment than what the Lodge's record label/management describes:

"With member of Inbreds, Thrush Hermit and the Super Friendz, the Lodge is kind of like the Velvet Revolver of Halifax Pop...minus the bad music and leather pants."

It understand what it means. I'd go for this East Coast pop sensibility over Velvet Revolver anyday. Their album, Take That Devil is out April 21.

The Lodge - Hey Kids (mp3) (buy)

The Lodge - Forget the Silence (mp3) (buy)

White Lies AGAIN

Fucking hell! About 50% of my recent posts have been taken down by that wussy copyright act. FUCK. This didn't use to be a problem for me. I mean, I respect the concept of the act and all, but just the fact they my entire post is taken down is really pissing me off. Music bloggers work hard on their reviews and features too. It's extremely painful to see our work simply disappear from the net without warning. If the companies had just asked me to take down the particular mp3, I would have immediately done so. Mind you, this doesn't mean I hold any grudges against the bands themselves, only about how their management deals with unwanted blog posts.

Anyway, I had a feeling this was going to happen so I saved a copy of my latest. Here it is again, unfortunately without the mp3.

-----------------------------------------------

Yesterday after performing at 102.1 the Edge's storefront studio...


doing some interviews, playing another short set at the Masonic Temple for MTV Live...




and doing some more interviews, the White Lies played a sold out show at Lee's Palace. Well, that's the only one I didn't have access to. Five months away from legal drinking age and dreading the wait. Although my friends and I did manage to recommend Toronto's Sonic Boom store to them, located just across from the venue. Pretty much our city's answer to the Amoeba. I wonder if the boys got to check it out before their show?

Here's a brief overview:
The White Lies are a three piece band from London, England. Harry sings and plays the guitar, Charles provides bass support and Jack keeps the drum beat. Their album To Lose My Life made its debut on UK charts at number one, and yet in North America, they're still pretty obscure. They used to be called Fear of Flying, but changed their name when they changed their sound. They aren't particularly fond of constantly being compared to Interpol and Joy Division, although they do respect both of those icons. They're also one of the only bands I know that proudly links to their Wikipedia profile on their official website.

I just recently picked up the album at HMV 'cause they were offering it for a ridiculously good price. Listening to it, I really do want to name drop some bands that come to mind, but out of respect for their wishes, I'll avoid it.
See, To Lose My Life is definitely not something hugely innovative or groundbreaking. Maybe that's the reason they get a lot of comparisons. It's dark and brooding, but you can still dance to it, so it's easy to see why it hit number one in the UK. Harry McVeigh's got one of those deep booming voices that really resonates well. His voice would never get lost among a crowd, even when they're chanting some of the shout-along choruses during their shows. Although sometimes I find it hard to tell if the lyrics are too blatant and melodramatic, or if they're insanely poetic in a strange morbid sort of way. I mean, in the title track To Lose My Life,

Let's grow old together... (aww)
AND DIE AT THE SAME TIME (uhm... aww...? Did I emphasize the second line too much?)

I read that a couple somewhere is using this as their wedding song... Melodramatic? Or very romantic? Well technically, McAdams and Gosling "grew old together" and "DIED AT THE SAME TIME" in the Notebook. So I guess I'll go with very romantic.

the White Lies - To Lose My Life (mp3) (Amazon) (iTunes)
MP3 removed

But regardless, the White Lies are a great band with some great tunes. Because that's what it's all about isn't it? The tunes. Not the novelty of their sound, or the disection of their lyrics. If they've managed to create something that pleases the ears, then they're golden.